Dress-code flap prompts 2nd homecoming dance in Utah

STANSBURY PARK, Utah -- A Utah high school threw a second homecoming dance for students after it turned away about two dozen girls from the first one last month for dress code violations.

As many as half of those who arrived at the dance ended up not going in after their dates and friends were barred from entering. The school's homecoming queen was among those turned away.

Friday night's dance was held as a goodwill gesture after many students ended up not going to the first one when their dates and friends were barred from entering, said Kendall Topham, principal of Stansbury High School, about 25 miles west of Salt Lake City.

Topham had earlier apologized to angry students and parents that the dress code hadn't been made clearer.

The school's handbook states that dress for formal events should be "at or near knee length," leaving room for interpretation. School officials said dresses could go 3 inches above the knee for the second dance.

Michelle Gubler said she and other students were very disappointed.

"I was having to watch all my friends get turned away for something that shouldn't have been such a huge problem, and watched that night that was supposed to be so great and memorable go down right in front of me," she told KSL just before Friday's dance.

Gubler said many of her classmates set out to make Friday's dance just another fun night -- but not everyone would approach it as a substitute for the homecoming dance.

"It's not really something you can replace, but it's a small way you can make it up," she said.